day it troubles them not and they look upon it as a certain Cure therefore in their Carnavals they give themselves all liberty and licence to do the vilest things because they are to be so soon eased of their Crimes by Confession and the never-failing hand of the Priest Child But I have heard some say that they are enjoyn'd Penance Is not that troublesome to them Father Alas Child their Penances and Satisfactions as they are handled are nothing but words and ineffective sounds for if some Confessors happen to be severe they may go to a gentler or they may have them commuted to Money or they may get some body else to do them for them or they may get all supplied by an Indulgence of which there are such store in the Lateran at Rome that as P. Boniface said no man is able to number them In the Church of Sancta Maria de populo there are for every day in the year 2800 years of Pardon In the Church of St. Vitus and Modestus there are for every day in the year 7000 years of Pardon and a third part of all our sins besides and the price of all this is but praying before an Altar in that Church In a Book of theirs called The Hours of the most Blessed Virgin Mary according to the use of Sarum for the saying three short Prayers are promised 90000 years of Pardon of deadly sin If this should be neglected a little Alms to a Priest a Pilgrimage to the Image or Relicks of a Saint wearing St. Francis cord saying over the Beads with an hallowed Appendant praying at a priviledged Altar leaving a Legacy for a Soul Mass and twenty other Devices will secure the Sinner from suffering Punishment here or hereafter And if a man fail in all these things 't is but going to the Tax of the Apostolick Chamber where there is a price set down for his Absolution that hath kill'd his Father or his Mother Brother Sister or Wife or that hath lain with his Sister or Mother or committed such sins as are not fit to be named These Observations I hope Child are sufficient to keep you and every well-meaning Christian from running into or abiding in such temptations Child I beartily thank you for the Advice you have given me hoping in the Lord that I shall be stedfast and immoveable alwayes abounding in the Work of the Lord. I shall detain you no longer but only intreat you to give me the sum of what you have said in few words that I may the better remember it Father I shall readily comply with your Desires The Religion of a Christian consists in Faith and Hope Repentance and Charity Divine Worship and celebration of the Sacraments and finally in keeping the Commandments of God Now in all these both in Doctrines and Practices the Church of Rome does dangerously err and teach men so to do They do Injury to Faith by creating new Articles and enjoyning them as of Necessity to Salvation they spoil their Hope by placing it upon Creatures and devices of their own they greatly sin against Charity by damning all that are not of their Opinions in things false or uncertain right or wrong they break in pieces the salutary doctrine of Repentance making it to be consistent with a wicked Life and little or no Amendment They worship they know not what and pray to them that hear them not they not only eat what they worship but adore those things with divine Worship which are not God And as for the Commandments they leave one of them out of their Catechisms and add six new ones of their own and while they contend for the possibility of keeping them all they do not insist upon the necessity of keeping any till the danger or Article of their Death And concerning the Sacraments they take one half of the principal away from the Laity and they institute little Sacraments of their own and annex spiritual Graces to them without a Divine warrant or Institution if these things can consist with the Duty of Christians certainly we have lost the true measures of Christianity Let all therefore that desire to be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus give no heed to their seducing Spirits and Doctrines of Devils teaching Lies in Hypocrisie having their Conscience seared with a hot Iron forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from meats which God hath created to be received with Thansgivings 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3 4. And let them give God Praise that they were born and bred up in the Church of England where the word of God is constantly read and preached in the Vulgar Tongue and the Sacraments duely and fully administred according to Christ's Institution where Repentance is preached according to the Measures of the Gospel Faith in Christ propounded according to the Rule of the Apostles the Commandments expounded with just Severity Holiness of Life urged upon all men as indespensibly necessary to Salvation and every thing practised therein which is useful to the saving of our Souls Consider what I say and the Lord give you understanding in all things 2 Tim. 2.7 FINIS
Father Yes We have the Nicene Creed made by the Fathers of the Nicene Councel the Creed of Athanasius and that which is commonly call'd the Apostles Creed which ought throughly to be believed for they may be proved by most certain Warrants of holy Scripture as our Church declares Art 8. Child But do these Creeds contain the true Christian Catholick Faith Father Yes They contain all necessary points in Religion to be believ'd and have therefore been call'd the Key and Rule of Faith and the Church never knew any other Creed or confession of Faith for many hundred years Child Is this the Faith which I must profess and seal with my Blood if I be called to it Father Yes Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me in Faith and Love which is in Christ Jesus 2 Tim. 1.13 Hence Athanasius thus concludes This is the Catholick Faith which except a man believe faithfully he cannot be saved Child But do not the Papists own these three Creeds as well as we Father They do own them as part of the Christian Faith though they little regard them but not as the whole Christian Faith Child Have they any other Creed or Profession of the Faith Father Yes The decrees of their Popes and the Canons of their late Popish Councels they hold to be Articles of Faith but especially they own and maintain the new Creed made by the Councel of Trent and confirmed by Pope Pius the fourth in the year 1564. Child Is it lawful Sir to make a new Creed Father No in no wise Though we saith St. Paul or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel than that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed Gal. 1.8 Child I perceive by what you have spoken that notwithstanding the Papists talk of the old Religion they have made a new Creed and brought in a new Religion and that we are call'd Protestants because we protest against it Father You conclude very well and that you may be confirmed and strengthened in the true Faith I will shew you the Trent Creed and give you some short Observations upon it First I most firmly receive and embrace the Apostolical and Ecclesiastical Traditions and all other Customs and Constitutions of the same Church Child What be those Traditions and Customs of the Church Father Truly Child I know not neither do they themselves neither will they tell us what they be but when they can make no proof for a Doctrine out of the Word of God they say 't is a Tradition and yet this Christ condemns in the Jews Mark 7.7 9. In vain do they worship me teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of men full well ye reject the Commandments of God that you may keep your own Traditions Child If this be the first Article of their new Creed they begin well for as far as I can understand the real Sense and Import thereof is I believe in the Pope for whatsoever he says is a Tradition must be believ'd I pray Sir what is the second Father The second Article is I admit the holy Scripture in that sense which the holy Mother-Church hath held and holdeth to whom it belongs to judge of the true Sense and Interpretation of the holy Scriptures nor will I ever receive or interpret them but according to the unanimous Consent of the Fathers Child Here is a form of receiving the Scriptures but I perceive it must be in such Tenor and Sense as the Fathers admit that is I suppose the Pope and his Council But do they suffer the People to read the Scriptures Father No Child they dare not do it they know that would destroy Popery Root and Branch and yet Christ says Search the Scriptures for in them you think you have eternal Life and they are they which testifie of me John 5.39 And the Bereans are commended and said to be nobler than those in Thessalonica in that they received the word with all Readiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so Acts 17.11 12. Child But since they keep the power of Interpretation methinks they might suffer People to read the Scriptures with their Glosses upon it Father No Child they dare not for they would quickly find their Glosses to be false the Scripture is so plain teaching us that no Prophecy of the Scripture is of any private Interpretation for the Prophecy came not in old time by the Will of Man but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1.20 Child But are all things necessary to Salvation plainly to be found in Scripture Father Yes The testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the Simple Psal 19.8 9. Thy word is a Lamp unto my Feet and a Light unto my Path. Psal 119.108 From a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto Salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 Child You have said enough to this I pray God set it home to my Heart I pray Sir proceed to the third Article Father The third Article is I profess also that there are 7 true and proper Sacraments of the new Law instituted by Jesus Christ our Lord for the Salvation of Mankind although all are not necessary to each one to wit Order Baptism Confirmation Eucharist Pennance extream Unction Matrimony and those all give Grace and of these Baptism Confirmation and Order cannot be reiterated without Sacriledge Child Did Jesus Christ appoint these Seven Sacraments Father No some of them had their being before and some after Christ's time only Baptism and the Eucharist or Lords Supper were instituted immediately by Christ received their Forms from him and flowed out of his wounded side whence it cometh that Water is the matter of Baptism and Bread and Wine of the Lords Supper Child I observe that they make Matrimony a Sacrament and say it gives Grace and yet I have heard that they will not suffer their Priests to marry Is that true Father Yes 'T is true they do so but 't is contrary to the word of God for we read 1 Tim. 3.2 A Bishop must be blameless the Husband of one Wife having his Children in Subjection Child I pray Sir what is the fourth Article Father I also receive and admit all received and approved Rights of the Catholick Church in the solemn Administrations of all the abovesaid Sacraments Child I pray Sir what are those approved Rights Father The vain Superstitions and idolatrous Rites of the Church of Rome in the Administration of the Sacraments are so many that they cannot easily be numbred However some of the Principal that are in my mind I shall discover to you In Baptism they conjure the Devil out of the Child they use many Crossings and besides Water they use Chrisme or Cream Salt and the Priests Spittle In the Eucharist after the words of Consecration they elevate the Hoast as they call it that is the consecrated Wafer
and they ring a Bell to give the People notice of it that they may adore it If any of the People receive which is very seldome they must not touch it with their hands but the Priest must put it into their mouths and there it must dissolve These and many other such like Ceremonies are made Articles of Faith Child But did Christ ordain none of those Rites Father No. John came baptizing with Water John 1.31 The Eunuch said to Philip here is water what doth hinder me to be baptized Acts 8.36 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you saith St. Paul 1 Cor. 11.25 That the Lord Jesus the same night that he was betray'd took Bread and when he had given thanks he brake it and said Take eat this is my Body which is broken for you this do in remembrance of me They do neither break the Bread nor suffer the People to take or eat it Child I have heard enough of this I pray Sir proceed to the fifth Father I also embrace and receive all and several the things which have been defined and declared in the Sacred and holy Synod of Trent concerning Original Sin and Justification Child What Doctrines do they hold concerning Original Sin and Justification Father The things declared and defined by the Councel of Trent concerning Original Sin and Justification are too many to be here recited They teach that Concupiscence is no sin after Regeneration that 't is washed away by Baptism That the first motions thereof is no sin Concerning Justification they declare that we are Justified by Works that good Works are meritorious nay that there be Works of supererogation whereby the Saints do merit not onely for themselves but for others and out of the superabundant Merits of Christ and the Saints the Treasure of the Church is made up which the Pope hath power to dispence to vvhom he please vvhich brings him in great Treasure Child But what doth the Scripture say to these things Father David confesseth his Original Sin as the Root and Fountain of all Sin Psal 51.5 Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my Mother conceive me And St. Paul complains of it Rom. 7.18 I know that in me that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing for to vvill is present vvith me but hovv to perform that vvhich is good I knovv not Child But are we not justified by our Works Father No Child We are justified freely by his Grace through the Redemption that is in Jesus Christ Rom. 3.24 v. 27.28 Where is boasting then it is excluded by what Law of Works Nay but by the Law of Faith Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by Faith without the Deeds of the Law Child If we are not justified by Works then certainly we cannot merit by them Father You say well and the same Christ teaches us in the Gospel Luke 17.10 When you shall have done all those things that are commanded you say We are unprofitable Servants we have done that which was our duty to do Child What is the sixth Article Father I also profess that in the Mass there is offered to God a true proper and propitiatory Sacrifice for the Living and the Dead and that in the most holy Sacrament of the Eucharist is contained truly really and substantially the Body and Blood together with the Soul and Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ and there is made a perfect Change of the whole substance of the Bread into his Body and of the whole Substance of the Wine into his Blood which change the Catholick Church calleth Transubstantiation Child In this Article are many things that I would be glad to understand 1. What I pray Sir is meant by the Mass Father 'T is an old word that few understand the word Missa some say did signifie to dismiss some out of the Assembly even all that did not communicate which if it should do so still would leave the Priest alone for now he usually communicates by himself and the People look on But I rather think 't is call'd the Mass because 't is a mess or mass of Corruption Child But why is is call'd a Sacrifice for the Living and the Dead I thought Sacrifice had ceased Father True Child so the Apostle Heb. 9.28 Christ was once offer'd to bear the Sins of many and Chap. 10.12 But this man after he had offer'd one Sacrifice for Sins for ever sate down on the right hand of God and verse 14. By one Offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified It may be call'd a Sacrifice because it is a Representation and Memorial of the true Sacrifice of Christ on the Cross and because it makes us Partakers of the same but no otherwise as I know of Child But is is the Bread and Wine changed into the Body and Blood of Christ Father No Child certainly if it were we should see it with our Eyes and handle it with our hands and smell it and tast it so to be but we see it and handle it and smell it and tast it Bread and Wine and therefore no doubt so it is After this manner St. John writes That which was from the Beginning which we have heard which we have seen with our Eyes which we have looked upon and our hands have handled of the word of Life 1 Joh. 1.1 and ver 3. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you that you may have Fellowship with 〈◊〉 Child But what doth the Scripture call it Father The Scripture after Consecration calls it Bread three times together 1 Cor. 11.26.27.28 For as often as ye eat this Bread and drink this Cup ye do shew the Lords Death till he come Wherefore whosoever shall eat this Bread and drink this Cup of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that Bread and drink of that Cup. Child But is it plain Bread and Wine and no more Father O no! God by these Signs of Bread and Wine signifieth sealeth and exhibiteth to every faithful Receiver the Body and Blood of Christ and all the merits of his Death and Passion So the Apostle 1 Cor. 10.16 The Cup of Blessing which we bless is it not the Communion of the Blood of Christ the Bread which we break is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ Child But what is this they call Transubstantiation Father The word signifies the Change of one Substance into another and thereby they express their Doctrine of the corporal Presence but neither the word nor thing is to be found in Scripture nor in the Writings of the primitive Fathers neither was it pretended to be an Article of Faith till the Lateran Counsel 1200 years after Christ and therefore we protest against it and say that what the Church of Rome teaches of Transubstantiation is absolutely impossible and
implies Contradictions very many to the Belief of which no Faith can oblige us and which no reason can endure Child I pray Sir what do they teach concerning the Cup Father That you shall see in the Article which runs thus I confess also that whole and entire Christ and the true Sacrament is received under one only Species of Bread Child By this Article I am apt to think they do not give the Cup to the People and indeed so I have heard but do they dare to do so Father Yes Notwithstanding we read in the Gospel Matth. 26.26.27 That Jesus took the Bread and blessed it and break it and gave it to his Disciples And he took the Cup and gave it to them saying drink ye all of it Child I wonder at this very much I pray Sir what do the Christians of the Church of England say to this Father We say 't is Sacriledge and tell them plainly that they do dismember the Institution of Christ and prevaricate his express Law and Creed from the practice of the Apostles Child What do the Papists say to this Father They take Liberty to say and do what they please for tho they confess it was the Institution of Christ and the Practice of the Primitive Church yet they lay it aside and curse all them that say they do amiss in it that is they curse them that follow Christ and his Apostles and his Church while themselves deny to follow them Child The Lord deliver me from Communion with such a Church Have they any more such Articles of Faith Father Yes The eighth Article is I constantly hold that there is a Purgatory and that Souls there detained are holpen by the Suffrages of the faithful Child I have heard indeed that the Papists talk much of Purgatory but is there any such place Father As I said of Transubstantiation so I say of Purgatory neither name nor thing is to be found in Scripture nor the primitive Fathers of the Church for above a thousand years nay the Scripture is express against it He that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me hath eternal Life and cometh not into Judgment but passeth from Death unto Life John 5.24 Blessed are the dead that dye in the Lord from henceforth even so saith the Spirit that they may rest from their Labours Rev. 14.13 If the dead in Christ be at Rest then the doctrine of the horrible pains of Purgatory is as false as 't is uncomfortable Child One would wonder why the Church of Rome should invent and defend such an idle thing as Purgatory is Father You are Child much deceived in this 't is no such idle thing as you imagine the Fire of Purgatory maintains the Fire in the Pope's Kitchin for though it be said that the Souls in Purgatory are holpen by the Suffrages of the faithful yet certain it is the Pope lays claim to a greater Power in that infernal Territory and boasteth to possess the Keys thereof and to open and shut at his Pleasure especially to such as are rich and liberal and the Priests for saying Masses and Dirges get more money than you can imagine Child Nay if it be so gainful 't is no wonder for I have heard 't is a Proverb with them No Penny no Pater noster But I pray proceed what is the ninth Article Father Likewise that the Saints reigning with Christ are to be worshipped and invocated and that they offer Prayers for us to God and that their Relicks are to be worshipped Child Do the Papists worship the Saints Father Yes They worship the Virgin Mary and all the Saints though Christ says plainly Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shalt thou serve Mat. 4.10 They worship likewise the Angels and particularly their Guardian Angel though the Angels abhor it I fell down to worship before the Feet of the Angel which shewed me these things Then said he unto me see thou do it not for I am thy Fellow-Servant and of thy Brethren the Prophets and of them which keep the Sayings of this Book worship God Revel 22.8 9. Child What Worship do they give to the Saints Father They pray to them they worship and invocate them more than God like the Heathen who changed the Truth of God into a Lye and worshipped and served the Creature more than the Creator who is blessed for ever Amen Rom. 1.25 Child Have they any guide for this Father No They have neither Precept nor Promise nor Example for it in the Word of God Child But are they sure the Saints hear them Father No neither Doubtless thou art our Father though Abraham be ignorant of us and Israel know us not Isa 63.16 so David Psal 73.25 Whom have I in Heaven but thee and there is none upon Earth that I desire besides thee Child But do they worship not only the Saints themselves but their Relicks also Father Yes They put them in Glasses and Gauderies above the Altar and that to have them adored They have this day the Milk of the Virgin which they say is as precious as the Blood of Christ and her Slippers and her Work-basket and Joseph's Breeches and the Navel-string of Christ and a thousand other things which they keep and shew to be worshipped And yet St. Paul says Act. 14.15 Sirs Why do you these things We also are men of like Passions with you and preach unto you that you should turn from these Vanities unto the Living God Child Is there any thing else that they worship Father Yes The tenth Article is I most firmly assert that the Images of Christ the Virgin Mary and of the other Saints are to be had and kept and duty of Honour and worship to be given them Child Is not this point-blanck contrary to the Word of God Father Yes The Commandment is plain Thou shalt not make to thy self any graven Image nor the Likeness of any thing that is in Heaven above or in the Earth beneath or that is in the Water under the Earth Thou shalt not bow down thy self to them nor serve them Exod. 20.4.5 Notwithstanding they make Images of God the Father in the likeness of an old man of God the Son hanging on the Cross and of God the Holy Ghost in the likeness of a Dove They make also the Image of the Virgin Mary and cloth her like a Lady and call her Queen of Heaven and also of the Apostles and other Saints and they put off their Hats they kneel and fall down and pray before them Child If this be not Idolatry I know not what is I pray Sir what is the next Article Father The eleventh Article is I also affirm that the Power of Indulgences was left in the Church by Christ and that the use of them is most conducive to Salvation of the Christian people Child Do they give Indulgence or Pardon for Sin Father Yes The Pope giveth Indulgence or Pardon for Sin sometimes for